A survey of Gothras among iyers (Tamil Speaking Brahmins)

A survey of Gothras   among iyers  (Tamil Speaking Brahmins)

Complied   by

P.R.Ramachander   

 Gothras    among Brahmins is supposed   to be patrilineal groups among them.  They are believed to have  originated   from the Gothra rishi.  I wanted to know how the gothras are spread among  Tamil speaking iyers  and undertook this survey. As a part of arm chair research I went through several issues of  Sruthivani and Mukthipriya magazines which give matrimonial advertisements of Iyers. From them   using  the data of 3507  advertisements, I could find that  , they belong to  51 Gothras(  There may be many more Gothras, which has not come in my survey.

Agasthya	4
Athreya	227	6.40%
Badarayana	12
Bharadwaja	685	19.50%
Bharghava	8
Chandilya	2
Devaradam	1
Garga	99	2.82%
Gauthama	86	2.42%
Gowri Veetham	6
Gowshteera	1
Gowsteera	2
Guthsava	1
Haritha	235	6.70%
Kalpangeerasa	2
Kanva	12
Kapi	8
Kashyapa	198	5.64%
Koundinya	379	10.80%
Koushika	477	13.60%
Kutsava	2
Lohitha	7
Manava	1
Mandavya	3
Medhara	2
Moudgalya	45	1.28%
Naidrupa Kahyapa	121	3.45%
Oupumanya	55	1.56%
Parasara	12
Pourugusthya	16
Radheethara	1
Ratheethra	1
Rebha Kashyapa	1
Salangayana	1
sankarshana	1
Sankrithi	103	2.93%
Saunaka	5
Shadamarshana	48	1.36%
Shandilya	18
Sikitha	1
Sri Vatsa	390	11.12%
Tharakayana	9
Udhitha	3
Uditya	5
Uditya Goutama	11
Vadhoolam	160	4.56%
Vasishta	6
Veethakavya	9
Vishnu Vardhangeerasa	3
Vishnudangeerasa	1
Viswamithra	21
Total	3507

Puducode Rama Pattar Rama iyer aka Chelakkara Thekke madam Kunju Rama Iyer aka Kingsway Madras Brahmin’s hotel Rama Iyer

     This great person was my father . Though I do not know his exact birth details , he was born in the early twentieth centaury as  the second son of Puducode Vadakke Gramam Rama Pattar  aka Saddil Raman and  Parvathy  the daughter of  the very rich Pulacode Rama Pattar . He had three younger sisters and a younger brother. His elder brother also was named as Raman and so he was called as Kunju Raman.  Though his father was from a rich background, due to fate he lost all his property.  He was  called to Chelakkara by his rich sister and a very rich father in law. His eldest son who was way word deserted the family  and ran away.  When Kunju Raman was  about 10 years old his father died of small pox . His  younger brother died before him.  His three sisters and mother were really starving. So the little boy of ten called Kunju Raman left his village to work in the Shanmuka Vilas hotel of his uncle at Kodaikanal . His uncle had several sons. The little Raman joined them as a worker. He has once told me that his dress was only a towel  and in winter he used to cover himself with an empty gunny bag. Because he was an extremely intelligent person , he learnt the art of serving in the hotel quickly. But he was not getting sufficient money to send to his mother and sisters. So after serving about an year he left Kodaikkanal  to work in another hotel in Combatore. He shifted later to Madras , Secunderabad and Bidar  .When he was 32 he owned the very famous hotel called Madras Brahmins hotel , which was 3397 in Kingsway secunderabad.

    We his children were educated by him and we became tolerably well off. At my very young age , when I was a scientist in Coimbatore, I had asked my father whether he wanted to visit  Shanmuka Vilas, Kodaikkanal. Some how he never wanted it. He said that it will take him  to the sorrow and misery that filled  a part of his life. He never wanted it. My father died at the age of 97 . I am now 72  and I had always had a longing to visit Shanmuka Vilas , Kodaikkanal.  It is still owned by the grand son of my father’s uncle .  This opportunity arose recently when my daughter and family went to Kodai  on April 25^th of this year. I accompanied them . The name of Shanmuka Vilas has been changed to Padma Lodge . It was with flowing tears that I asked my daughter to take a photo of that more than one hundred years old building where my father worked when he  was ten.

The present owner also pointed out an almost one hundred year old Bougainville  tree at the entrance of the hotel. I am also giving a photo of that  tree.

A Mama in Bahama

                                                    A nonsense rhyme On Bahama Mama

                                                           (Mama in Tamil means uncle)

                                                                  By    Raja Mama

                                                  To my little one who is not in India,

                                                 Osama  was definitely  not a mama,

                                                And  Obama was not  a mama to Osama,

                                                Nor was Obama a mama to Bahama,

                                               But in Bahama there was a hotel called  Mama,

                                                  Where the food was eaten by this mama.

This is a sketch by my seven year old grand daughter Yamini Venkatesan. She definitely appears to be a budding artist

Stotras for mothers and would be mothers.

Stotras for mothers and would be mothers.

I would like to point out several stotras which would be useful to girls who want to be mothers and also mothers. This definitely does not mean that there are no other stotras which would help them. These are some of those which I have come across:-
1.Stotras to marry according to ones wish
Swayamvara parvathi manthra mala stotram is the prayer which was used by Goddess Parvathi to marry Lord shiva and this same prayer was used by Gopis to marry lord Krishna. You can find along with translation in

http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Swayamvara_Parvathy_Manthra_Mala_Stotram

2.Stotras for married women to get children

1.Vamsa Vrudhi Karam durga Kavacham This is an extremely effective prayer to get children. You can find it along with translation which also contains instructions on how to use it in
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g68.htm


2.Puthra Prapthi Ashtakam This is a prayer addressed to Lord Narasimha of Mattapalli , which is in Andhra Pradesh. The God is requested to give a son in this prayer. The stotra with its translation is available in http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Puthra_Prapthi_ashtakam

3.Sashti devi storam. This prayer is extremely popular in the east of India. Sashti devi is Devayani , who was the wife of Lord Subrahmanya. She is believed to have six heads and rides on a cat. It is strongly believed that she answers our prayers and blesses barren women with sons. The stotra with a translation is available in
http://stotrarathna.blogspot.com/2012/02/sashti-devi-stotram.html

4. Slokas number 6 and 46 of Soundarya Lahari are supposed to help us in getting son. You can see my translation of Soundarya Lahari in http://www.sankaracharya.org/soundarya_lahari.php. Please note that there are yanthras attached to these slokas. They should be drawn , worshiped and later worn by the individual.

3.Stotras to protect mothers during pregnancy and ensure a safe delivery

1. There is a temple in Thikarukavur near Tanjavur of Tamil Nadu. The presiding Goddess is Garbha Rakshambikai. If you pray her it it is believed that she would ensure safe delivery. There are two stotras about her , one written by Sage Sounaka(
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/o1.htm
) and the other written by Brahmasri Sengalipuram Anantha Rama deekshithar ( http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g94.htm ) . Both these great prayers can be used to ensure safe delivery.
2. Sloka number 29 of soundarya Lahari helps in avaiding abortion and ensuring safe delivery.

4. Prayer to ensure increase in intelligence of children
1. There is a prayer addressed to Lord subrahmanya to increase the intelligence of our children. This is called Pargana Vardhaka Karthikeyatotram . Devotees believe that it would improve even mentally retarded children. It can be found in
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/in14.htm

2. The first five stanzas of Sasakthi shiva navakam helps one to get expertaise in different fields of learning. Depending on his need please teach the concerned sloka to him .It can be found in
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s24.htm

5.Prayer to ward of diseases of self as well as children

1. There are two great stotras called apamarjana Kavacham and Apamarjana stotram both addressed to Lord Vishnu which are supposed to clear of all diseases. They can be seen at
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v86.htm
and http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v88.htm


2. There is another prayer addressed to lord Shiva to get cured of all diseases called Srava roga hara Maheswara Kavacham
http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s68.htm


6. Prayer to help our children to live a healthy , joyous and wonderful life
There is a prayer in malalayalam addressed to the ten avatharas of lord Guruvayrappan to protect our children from all dangers and illnesses as well as to help them grow him in to a wonderful person. If you do not know Malyalam please read only the translation. It can be found in http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/k13.htm

Kavachams (armours ) addressed to various Gods

Kavachams (armours ) addressed to various Gods.

I think that it is the proper time and place to look backward and see the translation work done by me in categories. Kavachams are prayers that ask God to protect us and various parts of us. I have translated Kavacham as Armour . But many of my learned friends, prefer to translate it as shield. I some how feel that armour would be a better translation. There are two types of armours prevalent in stotra literature –one used a prayer and another used by thanthrics to protect themselves from evil spirits. I have translated more than 50 Kavachams in to English. Some of them like that addressed to Lakshmana, Bharatha , SAthrugna and Balarama are very rare. Apamarjana stotram addressed to Vishnu and Maheswara Kavacham addressed to Lord Shiva are believed to cure all diseases. The Vamsa Vrudhi karam Durga Kavacham and Varaha Kavacham are supposed to help in getting children. The Mrita SAnjeevini Kavacham is supposed to help us win over fatal diseases . The Trilokya Mohana Kavacham is believed to help us attract people. The Rudra Kavacham, Maha Vidhya Kavacham, Bhuvaneswari Kavacham and Kalika Kavacham are believed to help us win over our enemies, who have tried to destroy us by black magic. Here is the list of Kavachams that I have translated:-
1.Narayana Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v47.htm
2.Apamarjana Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v86.htm
3.Nrusimha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v75.htm
4.Trilokya Mohana Nrusimha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v76.htm
5.Narasimha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v89.htm
6.Venkatesa Vajra Kavacha stotram http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v49.htm
7.Sri Rama Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ra30.htm
8.Lakshmana Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ra27.htm
9.Bharatha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ra28.htm
10.Shatrugna Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ra29.htm
11.Balarama Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/k53.htm
12.Gopala Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/k54.htm
13.Gopala Akshaya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/k55.htm
14.Shiva Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s49.htm
15.Rudra Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s65.htm
16.Maha Mruthyunjaya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s67.htm
17.Mrita SAnjeevana Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s69.htm
18.Radha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g71.htm
19.Bhavani Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g112.htm
20.Devi Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g143.htm
21.Maha Vidhya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g153.htm
22.Bhuvaneswari Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g157.htm
23.Durga Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g74.htm
24.Vamsa Vrudhikaram Durga Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g68.htm
25.Kalika Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g158.htm
26.Saraswathi Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g156.htm
27.Maha Lakshmi Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g69.htm
28.Ganesa Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/p11.htm
29.Vinayaka Kavacham (Tamil) http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/p12.htm
30.Skanda Sashti Kavacham(Tamil) http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/m2.htm
31.Shanmuga Kavacham(Tamil) http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/m9.htm
32.Subramanya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/m10.htm
33.Kanda Guru Kavacham(Tamil) http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/m11.htm
34.Maha Sastru Anugraha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ay14.htm
35. Adhithya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n10.htm
36.Chandra Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n11.htm
37.Mangala Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n12.htm
38. Budha Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n13.htm
39.Brahaspathi Kavachamhttp://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n14.htm
40.Shukra Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n15.htm
41.Sani Vajra Panjarika Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n16.htm
42.Rahu Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n17.htm
43. Kethu Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n18.htm
44.Tri lokya Mangala Surya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/n31.htm
45.Eka Mukha Hanumath Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/h11.htm
46.Pancha MUkha Hanumath Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/h12.htm
47. SAptha Mukha Hanumath Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/h13.htm
48.Ekadasa Mukha Hanumath Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/h14.htm
49.Veera Hanuman Kavacham (Tamil) http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/h9.htm
50.Thulasi Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/o31.htm
51.Dathathreya Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/o40.htm
52.SArva Roga Haram Maheswara Kavacham http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/s68.htm
53.Varaha Kavacham for getting children http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/v46.htm
54.Maha Lakshmi Kavacham II http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/g154.htm

After retirement hobbies- 3 stotra rathnas in English

After retirement hobbies- 3 stotra rathnas in English
During the time I was 16 till I reached 60 , I was fond of praying using several stotras. When I was studying in the university I used to get charmed by reading Sri Krishna Karnamrutham, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Lalitha Sahasranamam, Devi Mahatmyam , Dakshinamurthy stotram and so on. Though I used to read them with devotion and was happy , I thirsted to knew the meaning of what I was reading. Fortunately I could get books on some of these great stotras. Then I drifted off by getting busy in my job and problems of my little poor family which I was trying my best to raise up. From then on , till I became 60 , I used to chant many stotras but recite only few of them understanding their meaning. So one of the first job that I took up was translation of some of these stotras in to English. I was not sure that I was doing a correct job. So I took a print out and them to the Kanchi and Sringeri Mutts. Swami Jayendra Saraswathi immediately replied. The draft that I had send was over all OK. This made me little more confidant. It was at this time that I went to the second time to USA. By that time I had translated about 40 stotras which included two sahasranamams and Abhirami Andathi. Our new daughter in law helped me by teaching me the first lessons on web design. BHagyam Ramaswamy put my translation of Abhirami Andathi in his web site. Several internet friends like Achalam encouraged me for launching a web site. So my new web site of Stotra rathnas was launched under tripod http://english_stotras.tripod.com/.
I came back to India and started putting lot of efforts for translating more and more stotras. All these were put in my own web site under geocities.com. Slowly and steadily this web site grew up. www.brahmanas.com helped me further by putting some of my translation in their web site. An organization called Rajajinagar Bhaktha Sabha released a CD containing 260 of my translations. A young gentleman in north started a web site called www.stotrarathnas.com for putting my translations . Sri Lakshmanan of www.celextel.org requested me to translate 21 minor Upanishads. They also put all my translations in their web site. It was at this time that the geocities.com closed all free web sites. I was worried that all my translations would be lost. One of my admirers from Hyderabad printed a few of my
Translations. A web site called http://sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/ from Holland allowed me to post all my translations in their web site. Giri Traders published my translations of Lalitha Sahasranam and Rudram. The Kanchi Kamakoti mutt made my translation of Devi Mahatmyam , a part of their book. www.hindupeda.com who were trying to build up an encyclopedia of Hinduism, made me as one of their editors. As on today I have translated more than 600 great stotras. In few more blogs I will make a brief review of what I have done so far, Ramachander